12-05-02:Mercer County Fair Board
Grandstand will be beaming for '03 fair

By BETTY LAWRENCE
The Daily Standard

Mercer County Fair Board members learned at their Tuesday night meeting
that repairs to the grandstand have been completed.
Repair consisted of replacement of the roof's deteriorating wooden
support beams with steel beams. The $6,000-plus project was paid for by the fair board and
Mercer County Commissioners, with county employees Myron Hartings and Jim Bader doing the
work.
"The grandstand's new beams look great and they did a wonderful
job," noted board Secretary Denise Cummins.
The board also discussed installation of spouting on the grandstand and
will review cost estimates in the near future.
Several changes in camping rules at the fairgrounds for 2003 were
approved. Those changes include: campers must be 18 years old to rent a campsite;
there is a 12 a.m. curfew on camping sites; no alcohol is permitted on the grounds; no
fires or dumping of water or sewage on the grounds; all campers under age 18 must be
accompanied by an adult; and no wheeled transportation on the grounds and no animals.
The board also approved the parking and camping committee's proposal on
increasing fair camping from $50 to $75 for the year 2004. Campzsites also have been
renumbered, reported committee member Steve Seitz.
In other action, board members:
- Agreed to provide a spot in the junior fair building during next
year's fair for photographer Nikki Fox, who will be taking the pictures of junior fair
participants and their livestock.
- Learned new stone has been spread on the race track by county
employees.
- Agreed to a meeting between the board's executive committee and
auction committee to discuss the issuance of checks to junior fair livestock participants.
The issue came about due to concerns that participants were not completing their project
books, a requirement for the fair.
- Approved payment of the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)
Sanction for the fair's rabbit show.
- Signed contracts for next year's Fall Festival and Fireman's
Convention, both held at the fairgrounds.